Tabitha shakes French women’s football
French women’s top league outfit Paris Saint Germain’s (PSG) Malawian forward Tabitha Chawinga’s stellar show has not gone unnoticed with some coaches in the league commending her exploits and describing her as the best.
The Scorchers captain appears to be winning over everyone and L ‘Equipe, a French daily sports newspaper quoted some coaches describing her as the best in the French First Division Arkema League.
FC Fleury 91 sporting director David Fanzel was quoted as having said: “She’s walking on water at the moment. Since the resumption of the league in January, she has been decisive and on fire.
“She scores and gets goals. When you are a striker, stats are important.
“But it is also the impression of power and confidence she gives out on the pitch.”
Dijon manager Sylvain Carric, whose side lost 3-0 to PSG in a match Tabitha netted a brace, described her as “a lethal weapon”.
He said: “At the moment, she is the best because the figures speak for her, quite simply.
“But there is still the impression she gives. We all know that her depth is incredible.
“No matter how hard we try to work on it, we just can’t find the solution at the moment. When we all know that her depth is incredible.
“No matter how hard we try to work on it, we just can’t find the solution at the moment. When you see the speed she is going at, no one can catch her.
“Then there is the speed of execution and the power of her supports, very low, very toned. It is impressive. She is clearly PSG’s lethal weapon, their driving force.”
On the other hand, Montpellier HSC sporting director Jean-Louis Saez was quoted as having said that while Tabitha is “indisputably one of the best at the moment, the depth of the PSG squad also helps her to perform well.
He said: “What is certain is that she is one of the most complete players in the Championship capable of playing well in all attacking positions.
“But you also have to bear in mind that she is expressing herself in a team that is performing well at the moment. It would be denigrating to the PSG collective to talk only about her.”
But PSG coach Jocelyn Precheur was cautious in her comment, keen not to single out just one player’s exploits.
He said: “She is feeling good at the moment and that has been reflected in her good performances.
“But to her credit, she is the first to say that if she can finish the action, it is because the group puts her in those situations.”
On her part, in an interview yesterday, Tabitha said she is humbled with all the praise.
She said: “It is good that my performance is being acknowledged, but after all is said and done, I keep on saying that credit should go to the entire team because without them, I am nothing really.
“I praise the Lord Almighty for His blessings and I will keep working hard.”
Minister of Youth and Sports Uchizi Mkandawire said Tabitha has become a sports ambassador for the nation.
He said: “She has become a superstar whom girls are looking up to as an inspiration and role model.
“We continue to be proud of her achievements which are flying the country’s flag high.”
National Women’s Football Association chairperson Adellaide Migogo said: “Tabi has nothing else to prove at international level and her achievements speak for her.
“She is simply among the best in the world.”
The 27-year-old, who is on a season-long loan with Les Parisians from Chinese Women’s Super League side Wuhan Jiangda, has taken the French women’s top-flight by storm and leads the league scorers’ chart with 17 goals, five above second-placed Ada Hegerberg of Lyon.
She is also joint leading scorer in the Coupe de France with four goals and has scored five goals in the Uefa Champions League, including one in the preliminaries against Manchester United Women.
Europe’s football governing body Uefa has also acknowledged Tabitha’s exploits to score 12 goals in 10 games in all competitions.
